WHY WE DIVE
NITROX?
NITROX, or more correctly called Enriched Air Nitrox ..... EANx
..... has been used in underwater operations for many, many years;
specially by the military, commercial and scientific community.
But now, it is the recreational divers who are giving the gas its
popularity. As Accomplices in our underwater delinquencies, we all
use NITROX almost exclusively in our excursions....WHY ?? Mainly
because it gives a real extended underwater time while it
INCREASES our safety margin in those multi-day, multi-dive trips.
We really exploit the best mix concept in EVERY dive, not just the
32% and 36% routine. We dive on the highestpercent NITROX that
safety margins permit, so as to decrease our nitrogen ongassing to
the very minimum. We prepare our mixes with accurate dive
planning, a rigid gas management and precise gas blending and
analyzing techniques.
***This all requires additional training.***
WE HAVE IT !!
WE USE IT !!
WE TEACH IT !!
Realistically, a diver using NITROX mixes with higher Oxygen
contents can dive for longer bottom times with shorter SIT
intervals and with less exhaustion under a wider safety margin
than with air. Most of us even carry air computers, because we do
not have to worry about taking it to the edge of deco, we KNOW we
are still well inside our limits. We perform multilevel dives with
air computers while diving on NITROX to ensure our safety is not
compromised. As we age and stress our bodies out of physical
condition, the need for additional safety factors becomes
imperative while still not decreasing our time and dedication to
this sport we love so much.
As an example, if we were to do three dives within one afternoon
..... while most other divers on board can barely make two without
coming too close to the edge of their deco envelop ..... this
would be a typical profile .....
on NITROX on air
104' for 20 minutes 36% E G*
SIT 1:00 D F
87' for 26 minutes 40% I H* 6 minutes maximum or do deco
SIT 1:30 F F
58' for 40 minutes 40% H J* 24 minutes maximum or do deco
* Deco limit of U.S. Navy Air Tables
Note.....For additional safety, our divers have the option to breathe 80%
NITROX during their safety stop at 20-30 ft which increases their rate of
Nitrogen offgassing ..... surfacing with a much LOWER amount of Nitrogen
than what the tables call for.
As you can see, the difference in bottom time is, not only
significant, but the air diver CANNOT perform dives (without doing
deco) which the NITROX diver breezes thru with a light nitrogen
load ..... after all these are only recreational dives. Even
restricting his/her underwater time, the air diver is so close to
the saturation limit that it would be risky to his/her health. On
the other hand, the NITROX profile is not only Nitrogen-safe, but
also Oxygen-safe. In both concerns, we have maintained a wide
margin of safety while extending our bottom time substantially.
